Reference

For the 13th edition, this major atlas has been updated to 2016 and includes, among several new features, nine historical maps of the world since 1858 and satellite images of the continents. The main body of the Atlas comprises over 200 pages of Collins Bartholomew maps covering the continents, oceans and polar regions. Other features include world maps, 41 city plans and geographical information, new sections on climate change and economy, a glossary and a comprehensive index of place names. Slip-cased.

Siegfried Sassoon decrying ‘political errors and insincerities’ in 1917; leg-theory in cricket; John Betjeman speaking up for threatened churches; the eccentricities of quartermasters’ vocabulary and syntax; and Theresa May on the first ascent of the Matterhorn... Covering a vast range of topics with erudition, opinion and a very British wit, this anthology of over 300 letters demonstrates why The Times letters page is renowned as a forum of debate, whether the topic be the future of education or dyed kippers.

Highlighting the rich diversity of the English language, this dictionary defines thousands of phrases that are commonly used but whose origins may have been lost or altered over the years – ‘knock on wood’, for example, stems from the belief that tapping on a tree trunk would summon a guardian spirit. Less common phrases, such as kew-kaw (upside down) are explained, and literal translations are given for phrases borrowed from other languages.

Ideal for the office, school, university or home, this authoritative atlas comprises over 100 pages of Collins Bartholomew mapping, including political and physical maps of the world, the oceans and the continents, with an index of 45,000 places. In addition, there are sections of satellite images of the world; historical maps from 1858 to the present day; geographical information covering states and territories and physical features; and plans of 44 major cities. No jacket.

Kidnappers, murderers and conmen, pretenders to the throne and even an ex-Postmaster General (the infamous John Stonehouse)... Ian Graham presents a collection of impostors who were mostly up to no good, but some had good reason to pretend to be somebody else – warehouseman Marvin Hewitt stole a scientist's identity in order to teach physics, and ME Clifton James became Montgomery's double to fool Nazi intelligence officers.